Illuminating device for pocketbooks or like receptacles



o. HALLBAUEW ILLUMINATING DEVICE FOR POCKETBOOKS OR LIKE RECEPTACLES 4 Filed July 8, 1938 INVENTOR 0770 H4 Lam/[1e Patented Nov. 7, 1939 UNITED STATES IILUMINATING DEVICE FOR POCKETBOOKS OB LIKE BECEPTACLES Otto Hallbauer, Grantwood, N..J., aaslgnor of one-half to Hana Bodenmann, North Bergen,

Application July 8, 1938, Serial No. 218,094

' 1 claim. '(01. 240-445) whit invention relates to improvements in receptacles such as pocketbooks, hand bags, and the like, and has particular reference to an illuminating device therefor. 4

An object of the invention is to provide an im-' proved illuminating device of simple and practical construction adapted for attachment to the closure fiapor member of a pocketbook or similar receptacle in such position. that said device may be utilized to illuminate the interior of the receptacle, or cast the rays of its lamp in other directlons. l

The above and other objects will appear more clearly from the following detailed description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing which illustrates a preferred embodiment of the inventive idea.

In the drawing: 4

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a pocketbook in open position showing the illuminating device attached thereto and in position to illuminate the interior of the pocketbook;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the illuminating device adjusted to a difierent-position from that shown in Fig; 1.

Figure 3 is a vertical transverse section through the pocketbook in closed position.

Figure 4 is a. fragmentary enlarged-sectional view of the illuminating device, and,

Figure 5 is an elevation, partly in section, of a holder for dry cell batteries used as a source of current supply for the illuminating device.

Referring more particularly to the accompany-L ing drawing the numeral 6 indicates the body of a pocketbook which may have one or more compartments therein, such as a compartment 1 which may be closed by a slide fastener 8. The interior of the body 6 may be'provided with a .lining a which extends downwardly mm the body and terminates short of. the bottom thereof to provide a chamber Ill, and said lining may have an opening adapted to be closed by a slide fastener II. Such chamber III is adapted to contain a holder II in the form of a tube having a removable end cap l3 and adapted to contain one or more dry cell batteries l l placeden'd to end within the holder. The cap I3 is provided with a contact Ii adapted to engage a terminal of one of the batteries [4 and extending' irom said cap are the two conductors Ii which pass upwardly from the holder between the lining 9 and anouter wall of the body I from which they project for connection to the illuminating device.

Said device comprises a socket member l'l; which may be oval in section and in one side of which is threaded a small incandescent lamp II which, through its mounting, has electrical connection wlth'one of the conductors It,

as shown in Fig. 4; The side of the member i1 opposite the lamp ills provided with aneye is adapted to receive a small rod 20 carried by a supporting plate 2|, the socket member being thus pivotally connected to sai plate. The plate 2| is preferably secured to the terior surface of the closure member or flap 22 of the pocketbook, and is preferably disposed adjacent the inner portion of said flap where the' same joins the body so that when the closure flap is opened to the position shown in Fig. 1 the illuminating device will be disposed directly above the compartment or compartments of the pocketbook. Should it be desired to use the illuminating device for other purposes than illuminating the interior of the pocketbook the flap 22 may be folded back as in Fig. 2 and the socket member ll swung to the position in said figure where the light from the lamp It may be directed away from the pocketbook and toward some more distant object.

To control the illumination of the lamp I8 the socket member is provided with a switch struc ture including a contact member 23 secured to one of the conductors l6 and insulated from the body of the socket member. Associated with said contact 23 is a sliding switch member 24 having electrical contact with the wall of the socket member so as to complete-the circuit for the lamp, IB when said switch member is in the posi- 23, said circuit may be broken and the switch member is then engaged and held by the spring arm 25 secured to the inner wall of the socket member I]. When the pocketbook is closed and the illuminating device is not in use, the latter will be suspended from the closure flap 22 and disposed in the space between the same and the ends of the compartments of the pocketbook, as

shown in Fig.v 3. 7

What is claimed is:

The combination with a pocketbook or like receptacles having a compartment, a flexible lining forming one of the walls of said compartment and extending downwardly to a point short of the bottom of said receptacle so as to combine therewith to provide a chamber, said lining having an opening in the bottom thereof, a separable closure for said opening, and a closure flap for said receptacle; of an illuminating device comprising a socket member, a .lamp mounted therein, a supporting plate secured to the inner surface of said closure flap adjacent said compartment, a rod on said plate, means on said socket member to hingedly connect the same to said rod, a source of current supplyln said chamber, a circuit including conductors connecting said source wi spaced terminals on said socket member, and aswltchslidable on said socket member for alternate engagement with said terminals to control said circuit.- 

